Harness motion for looms



March 21, 1950 c. 0. BROWN ETAL HARNESS MOTION FOR LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 1'7, 1946 INVENTORS CARL D. BROMV March 1950 c. D. BROWN ETAL HARNESS MOTION FOR LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 17, 1946 INVENTOR. CARL DBROWN BY EWARD c NICHOL5 Patented Mar. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- HARNESS MOTION FOR LOOMS Carl D. Brown, Hopedale, and Edward C. Nichols, Upton, Mass., assignors to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of Maine Application October 17, 1946, Serial No. 703,924

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to looms ,for weaving and more particularly to mechanism for operating the harness frames to shed the threads of the warp.

Looms of the type to which the invention relates have heretofore comprised a principal frame structure including right. and left loomsides held rigidly in spaced-apart relationship by a plurality of cross-girts and a loom arch extending across the loom generally above the level of the weaving mechanisms. The weaving mechanisms proper have been supported by the several frame-forming members. Heretofore it has been the general practice to support one set of the harness frame moving mechanisms, usually the retracting mechanism, or parts thereof, on the loom arch above the space in which the harness frames vertically reciprocate in shedding the warp. The other set of the harness frame moving mechanisms, usually to power operated set, has generally been located in the space below the harness frames and supported by one or more of the several girts of the loom frame.

While the above mentioned type of harness frame moving means has operated in a generally satisfactory manner, several objectionable features presented by that type of construction have been noted. Among these objectionable features may be mentioned the adverse effects of the loom arch upon good illumination of the warp, and the general obstruction by the arches of the weavers supervisory viewing of the several looms under her care. In the interests of good weaving and relief of the weaver from eye-fatigue it is desirable to have good illumination of the warp sheet and the weaving mechanisms at the cloth level. It is found that the usual loom arch greatly interferes with illumination at the cloth level furnished :by conventional overhead lighting fixtures, casting shadows and otherwise rendering the illumination non-uniform. Additionally, it is desirable that the weaver be able to see each of the plurality of looms under her supervision regardless of her position thereamong. It is found, however, that the several loom arches and bulky harness frame moving structures, extending above the weavers eyelevel, form a vision-obstruction .mass, precluding the desired viewing by the weaver of the looms assigned to her.

Another objection to the usual loom arch is found in the fact that, due to its general construction and location it does not add appreciably to loom-frame strength, yet must be of heavy construction to withstand the forces ap- Another objection to loom structures wherein an arch is employed to support means for transmitting or applying power or motion to the several harness frames is that the means, located on the archintermediate its ends, are relatively inaccessible to the loom fixer in the event repairs, adjustments, or replacement of parts becomes necessary. Further, if the means requires lubrication, as is generally the case, lubricant may drop upon the warp threads and cause damage.

Additionally, an objection to harness retracting mechanisms of the type heretofore employed is found in the fact that when one of the springs or straps breaks, parts of the mechanism are liable to be whipped or thrown about, endangering any person in the vicinity of the loom, and subjecting some loom parts and especially the warp threads to liability of severe damage.

With the above mentioned considerations in view, it is an object of the invention to provide encased harness frame retracting mechanism located entirely at the loomsides.

A further object is to provide a compact harness frame retracting mechanism which is largely encased in a protective casing, to reduce the danger to persons and the warp and loom in the event of breakage of parts.

Another object of the invention is to improve looms generally.

The above and other objects which will hereinafter become evident are attained by the invention, one preferred embodiment of which is described in the following paragraphs in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of certain parts of a loom incorporating the invention but otherwise of conventional construction;

Fig. 2 is a view of mechanism according to the invention and showing broken away portions of I appurtenant conventional loom structure;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation illustrating the mode of mounting mechanism according to the invention on a conventional loomside, with parts broken away for clarity of illustration and showing within a large circle a magnified view of a detail of construction contained in a smaller circle as indicated by the line connecting the circles;

Fig. 4 is a view of parts of mechanism according to the invention illustrating certain parts in "exploding" relationship; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a part of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

In the drawings, and referring more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a pair of loomsides Ill, 62, interconnected and spaced apart by a front girt 84. These members and others not shown comprise the framework of the loom. Extending transversely of the loomsides and situated generally in the space therebetween are harness frames 48, 42, arranged for substantially vertical reciprocation for warp shedding. These frames carry conventional heddle bars 18 supporting heddles 19. Situated below frames 40, 42 and connected respectively therewith by hooks I are jack sticks 46, 48, each bearing a pair of jack stick straps 5.. Depending from each jack stick strap 50 and connecting'therewith a respective treadle 54 is a turnbuckle 52. Each treadle is arranged to be given an up-and-down movement by a respective harness cam 56 mounted on an auxiliary shaft 58. The arrangement of the enumerated parts is such that as shaft 5| is rotated the cams acting upon the treadles cause the latter to positively pull down, in alternating order, the respective harness frames 40, 42, through the intermediate linkages formed by turnbuckles 52, jack stick straps 50 and hook and link units 44. While a plurality of cams, treadles and turnbuckles have been shown as operating each jack stick, it will be appreciated that but a single set of these parts may be employed for each jack stick if desired, the single jack stick strap in that event being located near the center of the jack stick and the cam, treadle and turnbuckle being re-positioned accordingly. Further, while but two harness frames have been illustrated, as many more frames and associated jack, treadle and cam means as may be desired may be employed within the capacity of the loom, and any desired order of actuation of the harness frames may be employed.

The structure described in the preceding paragraph is conventional and well known to those skilled in the art and by itself is not of the present invention. Itis described and illustrated to show an environment for theinvention and as an aid in disclosing the latter; and it should be understood that other equivalent structures may be used as environments for the invention.

After the previously described mechanism has pulled a harness frame downwardly, the frame must be raised. It is toward mechanisms for raising or retracting the individual harness frames that the invention is principally directed. To effect retraction of the frames there is provided by the invention structure including right hand and left hand pedestals 2, l, bolted to respective right and left loomsides 60, 62, as by bolts 5 (see Fig. 3). Mounted on the pedestals 2, 4 and secured thereto as by bolts 9 are respective supports 8, 8, which are of similar and complementary construction but of opposite hand, which in turn carry rigidly attached thereto respective shafts I0, 20, upon which are mounted individual harness frame retractor sheave sector and spring units as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The supports 6, 8 mounted on the respective pedestals 2, l, are, as noted, of similar construction. Also, the several means supported by supports 6, 8 are alike at each respective side of the loom. Accordingly the description of those elements will be limited to those situated at one loomside, it being kept in mind that a complementary set of like or similar elements exists at the opposite loomside.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 it will be seen that support 8 is adjustably attached to pedestal l by bolt and nut means 5 passing through elongated holes I in base ll of the support whereby the support and the mechanism thereon may be adjustably positioned laterally of the loom. The support 8 comprises a base H, an upright face plate l3 and a curved flange I5, all preferably formed as one integral piece. Opposite face plate 13 and secured to support 8 in a manner hereinafter described is an end plate 30, (see Figs. 2 and 4). Suitably fixed in bores H, II in faceplate I3 and end plate 30, respectively, is a shaft 20. Each of bores l1, I8 is provided with a keyway, as 3| or 3|a. Each end of the shaft is provided with a shoulder as at I9 and a portion of reduced diameter suitably threaded as at 21, and provided with a keyway 23. The portions of reduced diameter are of such dimension and so arranged as to fit in bores ll, l8 with the shoulders in abutting relation with the inner surfaces of face plate l3 and end plate 30. With keys, as 25, inserted in the aligned keyways within the bores and nuts, as 22, threaded on the protruding ends of shaft 2|! and firmly tightened against the exterior surfaces of face plate 13 and end plate 30, the latter is securely connected with I face plate I3. Additional means in the form of a stop bracket 10 (see Fig. 2) extending between and bolted to face plate l3 and end plate 30 as by bolt and nut means II, and a through bolt 25 extending between and through the two plates and having a nut 21 therefor, may serve to more rigidly secure plate 30 to plate l3, plate 30 being held against base Ii and flange IS. The parts just described form when assembled a rigid opensided casing having shaft 20 extending longitudinally therethrough. Shaft 20 forms a fixed support for a plurality of rotatably mounted sheave sectors each having a toothed hub 82 and a flange 84 at the outer periphery of the sector. For each sheave sector and arranged in the space between flange 84 and hub 82 thereof and extending spirally around the hub there is provided an individual two-ended spiral spring having a bent-in inner hook 92 at the inner end and an outer hook 94 at the outer end, as shown in Fig. 4. When in assembled relation, hook 92 is engaged with a selected tooth of the respective hub 82, to adjustably tension the spring as will more clearly appear hereinafter. The spring motor means comprising the toothed hub and associated spring may be like or similar to the toothed hub and associated spring structure disclosed in copending application Serial No. 564,011, filed November 18, 1944, now United States Patent No. 2,455,263, issued November 30, 1948, assigned to the same assignee as is this application.

Extending between plate [3 and plate 30 and secured thereto by slot and pin connection as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 is an anchorage 32 upon which are engaged the outer hooks 94 of the several spiral springs 90 and which aids in maintaining the plates properly spaced. Anchorage 32 is preferably provided with a cut-out 0r recess 95 which allows a tool or hook to be inserted under a spring hook 94 for ready removal of the latter from the anchorage; and there may be further provided a pad 33 on the face of the anchorage 32 which acts as a cushion for. the respective springs. The spring hooks 94 are prevented from lateral creeping by being engaged in notch-like recesses 35 provided along one edge of anchorage 32 as illustrated in Fig. 4. It will be noted that with the outer hook 84 of a spring 90 engaged with the anchorage 32, the inner hook may be rotated about the respective hub 82 and engaged with a selected tooth of the hub, thus tensioning the spring and causing it to tend to impart rotary movement to the sheave sector in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. The required tension in the spring is secured at the time of assembly of the mechanism by anchoring hook 94 on anchorage 3'2 and by subsequent rotation of hook 92 about hub 82 until the desired tension is achieved, at which point hook 32 is engaged with the nearest tooth of the hub. Thus the tension may be varied in small increments between zero tension and nearly the maximum permitted by the characteristics of the spring. Rotary movement of a sheave sector in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, i. e., in a direction allowing unwinding of the respective spring, is limited by engagement of the sheave sector at a point as at 86 (Figs. 3 and 4) with the anchorage 32.

The flanges 84 of the several sheave sectors are each provided with a series of tapped holes 87 (see Fig. 4) allowing of adjustable securement thereto of harness retracting elements, preferably in theforrn of flexible strap connectors 88, by means of screws 89. (See Fig. 2.) Each strap is provided with a corresponding series of holes 87a through any one of which the respective securing screw 89 may be passed. These features allowing adjustment of effective connector length are provided to accommodate different sizes of harness frames "nd different shedding conditions encountered in weaving practice.

Each flexible connector 88 extends from the point of its attachment on a respective sheave sector along a portion of the periphery thereof and then downwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to a position in contact with the end bar of a respective harness frame, as 40, to which it is attached by any suitable means, as screws 43. In assembling the several parts it may be preferable to first attach the connectors, one at each end, to a harness frame end, then to secure the connectors to the respective sheave sector flanges, with the frame in raised position. With the respective springs 90 under proper tension, the harness frame ends will be held in raised position until positively pulled down by the hereinabove described jack, treadle, cam and subsidiary means. When the frame is pulled down the associated sheave sectors (one ateach end of the frame) are rotated by the flexible connectors and the associated springs are thereby further tensioned, and as a consequence the frame will be retracted or raised by action of the springs when such motion is :rmitted by the cam and treadle means connected to that particular frame.

To limit the extent of retractive or upward movement of the ends of the harness frames, adjustable harness frame stops 12 are provided (see Fig. 2), one for each end of each frame, secured to a respective bracket and adjust-J able vertically thereon by means of bolts 14 passing through slots 13' formed in the stops and through holes 13a formed in the bracket. Each stop may be provided with a foot having cemented or otherwise secured thereto a cushion 15 which may be engaged by the turned over portion 16 I of the end bar of the have a relatively large number of frames, the

supports 6, 8 and shafts 20 may be made as much longeras is necessary.

To complete a casing enclosing the springs V and spring-actuated structures, there is provided a cover sheet 34 preferably formed from suitable heavy gauge sheet metal, bent to form a long double recess hook 36 at its lower edge (see Fig. 3) and sprung into curved shape to conform generally with the peripheral conformation of plates l3 and 30, and having hooks 38 at its upper corners preferably formed as bent-down portions of the sheet proper. The hook 36 is engaged with through bolt 26 and the sheet pulled upwardly until the bolt 26 is in the bottom recess of the hook, after which the sheet is pressed down at hooks 38 and slid outwardly and downwardly with a generally rotary movement until hooks 38 are engaged with nuts H and hook 36 engages bolt 26 in its upper recess. While these specific means of securing the cover sheet to the associated parts are illustrated, it

, is clear that other equivalent means could be employed. For example, studs threaded into plates I3 and 30 in place of through bolt 26 could be used, shaft 20 and bracket 10 in such case serving to secure end plate 30 rigidly to plate I3. Thus it is seen that the cover sheet forms, with an end plate 38, a face plate l3, a base H, and a flange I5, a nearly closed casing in which the principal operating components of the mechanism are contained. There is thus provided between flanges l5 and stop bracket I0 an opening 68 (Fig. 3) through which the flexible strap connectors 88 pass in extending downwardly from the sheave flanges to the respective harness frames. The cover sheet is readily removable without loosening of nuts or other fixed structure by reversal of the above described movements, sliding the sheet upwardly and inwardly to release hooks 38 and then disengaging hook 36. Accordingly, ready access into the casing is allowed for attachment of straps 88 to the sheave sectors and for inspection or replacement of any of the encased parts. It will be noted that in the event of breakage of a connector, a spring, or a sheave sector, there is little likelihood of any part escaping from the casing to cause injury to persons, the warp threads, or the remainder of the loom. If a connector 88 breaks, the spring tends to withdraw one part of the connector farther into the casing, and rotation of the sheave sector is promptly arrested by anchorage 32 when engaged by'point 86 of the sheave sector. The other part of the connector merely falls with the frame or drops easily out of the opening 68, and in any event is too short to effect damage or injury. If a spring or sheave sector breaks, all loose pieces or parts are confined within the casing and are thus prevented from inflicting injury or causing damage.

It will from the above be seen that the invention provides harness frame retracting mech- 7 anism which eliminates the necessity of a loom arch, which safely confines the moving parts of the harness frame retracting mechanism, and which otherwise achieves the objects of the invention.

Having disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention it will be understood that changes and modifications thereof within the scope of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art, and what we claim is;

1. In a loom having loomsides and a two-ended harness frame, means located entirely at the loomsides acting to impart retractive movement to the ,harness frame and comprising in combination: a casing having an opening and a removable cover, means supporting the casing on a loomside, a sheave sector, means rotatably supporting said sheave sector within said casing, is two-ended tensioned spiral spring within said casing and one end of which engages said sheave sector to impart rotary movement thereto, an anchorage within the casing engaged by the other end of said spring, and a flexible connector attached adjacent one of its ends to said sheave sector and extending outwardly of said opening and connected at its other end to one end of the harness frame.

2. In a loom having loomsides and two-ended harness frames positioned generally between the loomsides, harness frame retractor mechanism located entirely at the loomsides comprising in combination, at each loomside, a casing including a removable cover and provided with an opening, means supporting the casing on a loomside, a plurality of sheave sectors each including a toothed hub and a peripheral flange, a plurality of tensioned spiral springs each convolved about the hub of a respective sheave sector and at one end engaging a selected tooth of the hub to impart rotary movement thereto, means supporting said sectors for independent rotation within the conflnes of said casing, an anchorage within said casing and engaged by the other end of each of said springs, a plurality of flexible strap connectors ea'ch attached to a respective harness frame end and extending through said opening into winding engagement with a respective peripheral flange, and means adjustably securing each connector to its respective flange.

3. A loom harness frame retractor mechanism comprising, in combination; a casing having a removable cover and an opening; a shaft and an anchorage within and supported by the casing; a plurality of independent sheave sectors within said casing and each including a multitoothed hub rotatably mounted on said shaft;

a plurality of two-ended springs within said casing, one for each hub and arranged spirally about the respective hub with one end engaged with a selected tooth thereof and the other end engaging said anchorage; and a plurality of flexible connectors engaged each at one end thereof with a respective sheave sector and extending out of said casing through said opening and arranged at its other end to be attached to a harness frame 'end, whereby when any connector is pulled outwardly of the casing the respective spring is tensioned for retractive movement of the connector.

4. In a loom having loomsides, a plurality of harness frames positioned generally between the loomsides, and means below the level of said frames acting to lower said frames each independently of another; means located entirely at the loomsides acting to retract said frames each independently of another and comprising at each loomside, in combination: a casing including aremovable cover, tensioned spiral springs and spring-actuated mechanisms in said casing, and flexible strap means connected to said mechanisms and extending from said easing into lifting engagement with the adjacent ends of said harness frames and acting in response to the tension in said springs to retractively raise said harness frame ends.

5. In a loom having loomsides, a plurality of two-ended harness frames positioned generally between the loomsides, and means below the frames acting to lower said frames each independently of another: means located entirely at the loomsides acting to retractively raise .said frames each frame end independently of the others, said last named means comprising at each loomside a casing provided with an opening, a shaft for each casing and fixed therein, a plurality of independent sheave sector and spring structures for each shaft and rotatably mounted thereon and conflned within a respective casing, fixed anchorages one in each casing and anchoring one end of each spring, and a plurality of flexible connectors one for each sheave sector and spring structure and secured at one end thereof to a respective sheave sector and extending outwardly of the casing through the opening thereof and attached at the other end thereof to a respective adjacent harness frame end, whereby when the first mentioned means lowers a harness frame the associated sheave and spring structure at each end of the harness frame is actuated to tension the springs thereof to cause retractive raising of the frame when permitted by said harness frame lowering means.

6. A harness frame retractor mechanism for a loom having loomsides and harness frames, comprising, in combination: a pedestal on a loomside, a casing at the loomside supported on the pedestal and comprising a removable cover sheet and provided with an opening, an anchorage within the casing, a shaft secured within the casing, a sheave sector within the casing and including a toothed hub rotatably mounted on the one direction, a short flexible connector arranged at one end to be attached to a harness frame end and extending into said casing through said opening and attached at the other end thereof to said sheave sector, whereby when said connector is pulled outwardly of the casing the spring is further tensioned for subsequent retraction of the connector.

7. In a loom having loomsides, a plurality of two-ended harness frames positioned generally between the loom sides, and means below the frames for lowering the frames each independently of the other; two casings one positioned at each loomside and slightly above the top of the said harness frame, independent flexible connectors extending from within a respective casing and attached each to a respective harness frame end, a plurality of independently operable rotary retractor means within each casing and each connected to a respective flexible connector to effect independent retractive raising of harness frame ends, adjustable stop members one for each harness frame end, and means securing 7 said stop members to the respective casings in 9 apositiontoengagethetopedgesoftherespective frames.

8. In a loom including loomsides, a plurality of two-ended harness frames positioned generally between the loomsides, and means acting to independently lower each harness frame: two harness frame retractor means each located entirely at a respective loomside and supported thereby and acting to retractively raise the adjacent harness frame ends each independently of the remainder; each of said last mentioned means comprising flexible connectors one for each harnes frame, means securing said connectors each to a respective harness frame end, rotatable sheave sectors one for each connector and having a flange in substantially tangential relationship with a plane including the adjacent end of the associated harness frame, meam securing each connector to a respective sheave sector flange, a shaft at the loomside and rotatably supporting said sheave sectors, an individual tensioned two-ended spiral spring for each sheave sector and engaging at one end thereof the respective sheave sector to bias the sector in a direction to tend to retractively raise the associated harm frame end, anchorage means adjacent the sheave sectors and engaged by the other ends of said springs, adjustable stops one for each harness frame to limit retractive movement thereof, and a casing supported by the loomside substantially encasing said shaft, sheave sectors, springs, and anchorage and supporting said adjustable stops.

9. In a loom having loom sides and vertically movable harness frames positioned between said 10 loom sides, positively acting means beneath each harness frame for moving it downwardly and means for retracting said frames after each positive downward movement, said means comprising at each loomside and beyond the ends of the frames, 2. support attached to the loomside and a casing fixed thereon, adjustably restrained spiral springs in said casing, one for each harness frame, and a flexible connector attached to the adjacent end of each frame and connected for actuation by the spring individual to that respective frame, and stop means engageable with the top end portion of each frame for limiting its upward movement, said support, casing and cooperating parts being positioned at such height as to provide only for raising the frames to their maximum elevation with a substantially minimum length of flexible connector, thereby to eliminate parts extending across the top of the loom and overlying the harness frames and warp sheet controlled thereby.

CARL D. BROWN.

EDWARD C. NICHOIB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Kirkpatrick July 21, 1931 

